Mike Honda launches Anti-Bullying Caucus

Also included among the caucus’ 41 initial members are representatives Barbara Lee, D-Oakland, and Pete Stark, D-Fremont.

“The health, safety, competitiveness and moral fiber of America is threatened by a bullying epidemic that affects more than 13 million children each year,” Honda said in a news release. “As an educator of 30 years and a member of Congress who was bullied as a child, I have formed the Anti-Bullying Caucus to empower each constituency in the anti-bullying movement, including but not limited to youth, seniors, religious communities and LGBT-identifying individuals. The Anti-Bullying Caucus seeks to focus the energy and effort of the movement to forge a path forward to stop bullying — both offline and online.”

The caucus’ mission statement says it’s committed to uncovering all forms of bullying, from school bullying to elder abuse to LGBT discrimination, and making it possible for victims of bullying to come forward; protecting all individuals that are victims of any and all forms of bullying; and preventing bullying behavior by recognizing its manifestation as symptomatic of other, larger issues.

The caucus’ launch today in Washington included a news conference as well as roundtable sessions with leading advocates and a screening of the documentary film “Bully” at the Department of Education.

Josh Richman

Josh Richman covers state and national politics for the Bay Area News Group.
A New York City native, he earned a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri and reported for the Express-Times of Easton, Pa. for five years before coming to the Oakland Tribune and ANG Newspapers in 1997.
He is a frequent guest on KQED Channel 9’s “This Week in Northern California;” a proud father; an Eagle Scout; a somewhat skilled player of low-stakes poker; a rather good cook; a firm believer in the use of semicolons; and an unabashed political junkie who will never, EVER seek elected office.